POLICE INTERVIEW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

SAMPLE POLICE INTERVIEW QUESTION

Q. Provide an example of where you have challenged someone’s behaviour that was either discriminatory or inappropriate. What did you do, what did you say and why did you challenge their behaviour?

SAMPLE RESPONSE

Tip – this is a very good question to prepare for. Not many candidates will be prepared for this. It is quite a difficult question to respond to but make sure you read the following sample response which is a very good way to respond to the question:

“I recently worked part-time in a local supermarket. One of my colleagues, a lad called Jamie, had special needs. Jamie was an excellent worker who always gave his all during the working day. He sometimes struggled to remember where certain items of groceries were located in the store, but other than this minor issue, his work was outstanding.

One day I overheard a customer being rude to Jamie after he struggled to find an item of food the customer had requested. The customers unfortunate gestures had made him nervous and he started to panic. I immediately made my way over to the situation in order to support Jamie, and try to resolve the situation in a calm and professional manner. I started off by standing next to Jamie and telling him that everything was going to be alright and that I would take over from here. I asked the lady what the problem was. She began to explain in an agitated and slightly aggressive manner that Jamie was ‘useless at his job’ and that he was an ‘idiot’ for failing to locate the tomato ketchup for her when she requested his assistance.

I immediately challenged her comments and informed her that these comments would not be tolerated. I asked her to take into consideration the fact that Jamie, whilst an exceptional employee, has special needs. I requested that she refrained from raising her voice and to also take into consideration how her actions had made him feel. I made sure that I was polite, tolerant and patient when dealing with the situation, but I also ensured that I took into consideration her offending action and how it was making Jamie feel.

She immediately apologised to Jamie for her lack of understanding and inappropriate language. I then told Jamie where he could find the tomato ketchup and he then took the lady along to find the item for her. Overall, I believe this situation was dealt with appropriately and successfully. I managed to prevent the situation from deteriorating whilst maintaining high levels of customer service and professionalism.”

Within this workbook, we will provide you with loads of sample questions and tips like the above and example responses, which you can use to adjust your answers to the same questions.

SAMPLE POLICE INTERVIEW QUESTION

Q. Why do you think the Police Force puts so much importance upon diversity and community awareness?

SAMPLE RESPONSE

“For the simple reason that the community in which it serves is diverse in nature, and therefore requires a service that is both understanding, culturally aware, responsive to its needs and willing to learn. If the community in which we live is diverse, then the public services that represent it should be too. In terms of community awareness, the Police Force must understand the needs of the community in which it serves.

The Police Force should be aware of the different cultures and backgrounds of its community, so that it can be respectful and understand the needs of everyone in society. By doing this, it will enable the Police to provide the highest level of service to the people it serves. If the Police Force is not aware of the community it cares for, then it cannot continually improve and provide the highest level of service to everyone.”

Within the workbook you will find loads of sample responses like this to aid you in your preparation. Remember what we said earlier – you owe it to yourself to perform really well on the day and pass, which is why we have provided you with the ultimate guide which will no doubt improve your chances!